FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28
1 Corinthians 16:5-9
Acts 16:6-35

“For a great door and effectual
is opened unto me.”

THE COOPERATIVE WILL OF GOD

When we obey God’s commandments and follow His specific will for us in our lives, God will help us and bless us with good success in our work for Him. This is known as the cooperative will of God.

The cooperative will of God can be seen in Paul’s call to Macedonia. Paul had initially determined to preach the gospel in Asia, but the Holy Spirit forbade him to go (Acts 16:6-7). Paul then received a vision of a man beseeching him to go over to Macedonia (Acts 16:9). Being assured that it was the Lord’s will and direction, Paul hasted to Philippi, which was a chief city of the region of Macedonia. There the Lord led him to Lydia, a seller of purple, and opened her heart to the teachings of Paul (Acts 16:14). The Lord had opened a great and effectual door for Paul.

However, being in the cooperative will of God does not guarantee an absence of difficulties, trials and persecutions. Paul was soon thrown into jail for driving out a spirit of divination from a girl. Nevertheless, in the midst of such trials, God will make a way and turn it for good. While Paul and Silas were in prison, God caused a great earthquake to shake the foundations of the prison. These events caused the Philippian jailor to ask Paul, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Paul replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). The Philippian jailor and household were gloriously saved.

After Paul left the church, God continued to work in the church. When Paul wrote the Epistle to the Philippians ten years later, the church had grown to have elders and deacons (Phil 1:1).

The cooperative will of God can thus be summed up in 1 Corinthians 16:9. When we abide in God’s will, He will help us to complete His task even though there may be adversaries around.

THOUGHT: God will always bless those who follow His will.
PRAYER: Father, here am I, send me.